The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-02-02
The angels OF Gods rescue are wading

The angels OF Gods rescue are wading
down into tha surf to clutch your
hand and the redeemed prodigals Of Heaven
are coming down with white robes to clothe
all those who come ION broken pieces of the
ship" My sympathies are the more aroused
for those to whom am speaking to-day, be-
cause myself was naturally sceptical. I
questioned everything about this life and
about the next life, and was farther out at
sea'thau the 216 passengers on the fourteenth
night when they threw their grain overheard; {;
and was the annoyance OF my theological
professor because asked so many questions.
But heard that Christ came to save sinners.
and knew l was one Of them, and l came
ashore, and I have been there ever since,
and 1 do not propose TO- put out on
that sea again. would not risk it
all. I have not in the last thirty wears
the controverted points of religion, and I
shall not for the rest of my life spend thirty
seconds in discussing the controverted points
of religion. 1 would rather in canos 60
out and dare the worst cyclone that ever
swept up from the Caribbean, than trust my.
self in O discussion SO useless. so dan
of my theological brethren are indulgiug.
They make me think of group OF sailors on
RaInsoate Pierhead, from which lifeboatS
are usually launched, coolly discussing the
different styles Of oarlocks, and how a boat
ought to set in the water, and dis
cuSsing coolly the laws Of navigation
When there is hurricane in full blast
and three steamers laden with passengers
going to pieces in the offing. A jack tar, his
face twitching with nervous exciteme Mt.
says: MY lads, this is no time to discuss
such things Man the life-boat. Who will
man the pier7 Out with her into the surf.
Pull away for the wreck, my lads, pull, pull!
There we have them. Lay them down in
the bottom Of the boat boat: Now, Jack, try to
these fannels, while 1 pull for the beach.
God help me! God help us ALL There's
land! Huzzah; Saved! All ofthem!" Oh, when
there are thcusands and tens of thousands
out in the awful surf Of sin AMI death and
hell out with the lifeboat. Let all else 60
for this one effort Of salvation-salvation
for time salvation forever. l bethink my
self of the fact that in this audience there
are those who because Of their opportunity,
wreck, complete wreck. You started
life with fair prospect You prom
ised peaceful, bright and beautiful
voyage, but you have sailed in the wrong
direction, or you have foundercd ON the rocks,
so there is only fragment of time left. Come
in on that plank. "Some on broken pieces OF
broken up, ~ QeCaQo Ol lily lll6 BOue, wv
decades gone, three decades gone, four
decades gone, perhaps half a century
gone, perhaps three-luarters Of a century
gone. The minute hand aud tho hour hand
Of your clock of life are almost parallel,
and it will soor be twelve o'clock and your
day Of grace ended. All discouraged are
you' I admit it is sad enough to give
to sin and the devil the best part
Of our lives, and then at the close
make God the present of O first rate
corpse. You can never come in on that old
ship: it has gone to pieces. You can never
recall the past; it has gone forever If there
is only fragment Of year left or frag-
ment of month, or fragment of week, or
q fragment OF q day, or fragment OF an
hour, come in on that plank. Perhaps when
you get to heaven God may let you go out
on some great mission to some other world,
partially to atone for your lack OF service in
this. From how many deathbeds l have
seen hands thrown up in declarations some.
thing like this: "My life has been wasted:
have good talents; I had fine social
position; 1 had grand opportunities, but
through worldliness or neglect, all are gone
except these few remaining moments I
now accept Christ and l shall through His
mercy enter Heaven. But alas! alas! when
might have sailed into the haven Of
eternal rest with a full cargo, and been
greeted by the waving hands OF great null
titude in whose salvation 1 had taken q
blessed part, must confess, that go into
the harbor Of Heaven son broken pieces OF
4ho -